No credibility

Why waste time considering bin Laden’s remarks about his “brother”?

Islamic terrorist Osama bin Laden supposedly said in an audiotape that Zacarias Moussaoui had nothing to do with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. If he actually said it, why now? And why wouldn't he lie to cloud the picture and cause doubt among us? He is not exactly a George Washington-type when it comes to the issue of chopping down cherry trees, and buildings.

"I am the one in charge of the 19 brothers, and I never assigned brother Zacarias to be with them in that mission," Osama supposedly said on tape. "Since Zacarias Moussaoui was still learning how to fly, he wasn't No. 20 in the group, as your (American) government has claimed. It knows this very well."

Moussaoui is the only person convicted in the United States in connection with the 9-11 attacks and now faces life in prison after a circuslike trial during which he once confessed to his role in the plot and then denied it.

If Moussaoui is so innocent, why didn't Big Daddy come forth sooner to get him off the hook? If he is guilty, as the justice system says, what better way to cause doubt and new controversy than for bin Laden to lip off?

Whether the tape was authentic or fake, Americans cannot be blamed for considering bin Laden as a murderous liar who will say or do anything to make things difficult. As for his notion he planned the atrocities, what else is new?

So why waste time fretting over the one of the world's master spin doctors out to inspire more believers to become new blood-lust devotees?